I'm a newbie turkey hunter. This is the first year I've tried it, and it wasn't until the very end of the season before I stepped out to give it a try.
I've watched many videos on YouTube and elsewhere, but I don't think anything is going to take the place of good ol' experience, so I need more practice.
I've had hens in the past respond to a turkey call. I heard them in the distance and gave it a try with a box call. They came all the way to my blind.
So I set out yesterday with some camo burlap for a makeshift blind, a short chair, and my favorite Browning BPS shotgun. Started playing with my slate call, trying to make it sound like what I've learned. About an hour into it (and after multiple incidences with cattle) - calling about every 10 to 15 minutes, I heard a gobbler. I struck it again a few times and the gobbler got louder. I didn't know whether it was right or not, but I figured as long as I am hearing him, I'm going to keep calling. He got louder and louder until he sounded like he was less than 50 yards from me, but he never came out of the woods line. Then it sounded like he went around me, and his gobbles faded off as he got further away.
A second one started responding a short time later. Same thing happened here. He got louder and louder - same area, and then faded off as he went around me.
The cattle incidences: Beautiful day. Not too hot. Hunting about 75 yards from my deer feeder, so I also got to watch deer come in and munch some corn. Watched them for about 5 minutes before they spooked and ran. Cows and the Bull came wandering out from the woods right next to the feeder pen, so I think that is why they took off. The Bull and one of the Cows headed immediately to my "Funky Chicken" (which I have nicknamed "El Diablo")
, and started playing with it. The bull head-butted it a few times, while one of the Cows was trying to eat it's beard. After they nocked it down, I shoed them away and set it back up again. Another cow returned later to play with it. Funny as heck to watch him swat it with his head so it would spin, and then he would jump back and come back at it again. She was actually playing with it like it was a toy. Laughed my butt off watching that until she head-butted it to the ground and killed it a second time. I shoed her away again, set it back up and continued the hunt. Turkeys started gobbling after the second cow-decoy fight.
Good day, but I need practice. My heart was racing as the gobbles got louder. Next year, I'll be ready. I may try one last time this evening.
All the best,
Glenn
I've watched many videos on YouTube and elsewhere, but I don't think anything is going to take the place of good ol' experience, so I need more practice.
I've had hens in the past respond to a turkey call. I heard them in the distance and gave it a try with a box call. They came all the way to my blind.
So I set out yesterday with some camo burlap for a makeshift blind, a short chair, and my favorite Browning BPS shotgun. Started playing with my slate call, trying to make it sound like what I've learned. About an hour into it (and after multiple incidences with cattle) - calling about every 10 to 15 minutes, I heard a gobbler. I struck it again a few times and the gobbler got louder. I didn't know whether it was right or not, but I figured as long as I am hearing him, I'm going to keep calling. He got louder and louder until he sounded like he was less than 50 yards from me, but he never came out of the woods line. Then it sounded like he went around me, and his gobbles faded off as he got further away.
A second one started responding a short time later. Same thing happened here. He got louder and louder - same area, and then faded off as he went around me.
The cattle incidences: Beautiful day. Not too hot. Hunting about 75 yards from my deer feeder, so I also got to watch deer come in and munch some corn. Watched them for about 5 minutes before they spooked and ran. Cows and the Bull came wandering out from the woods right next to the feeder pen, so I think that is why they took off. The Bull and one of the Cows headed immediately to my "Funky Chicken" (which I have nicknamed "El Diablo")
, and started playing with it. The bull head-butted it a few times, while one of the Cows was trying to eat it's beard. After they nocked it down, I shoed them away and set it back up again. Another cow returned later to play with it. Funny as heck to watch him swat it with his head so it would spin, and then he would jump back and come back at it again. She was actually playing with it like it was a toy. Laughed my butt off watching that until she head-butted it to the ground and killed it a second time. I shoed her away again, set it back up and continued the hunt. Turkeys started gobbling after the second cow-decoy fight.Good day, but I need practice. My heart was racing as the gobbles got louder. Next year, I'll be ready. I may try one last time this evening.
All the best,
Glenn